CALA Supporters Rally at State Capitol

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2015

PRESS CONTACTS
Maryann Marino, Southern California Regioanl Director, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
949-375-0856    [email protected]

Kim Stone, President, Civil Justice Association of California
916-443-4900     [email protected]

 Legislators and Grassroots Supporters of Lawsuit Reforms Rally at State Capitol
Small Business Owners & Victims of Lawsuit Abuse Alarmed that Lawsuit System Benefits Lawyers, Not Ordinary 

SACRAMENTO, CA. –Grassroots supporters of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) and the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) today rallied in front of the State Capitol Building alongside legislators in support of lawsuit reforms that will help the state’s lawsuit system serve the interests of ordinary people instead of lawyers.

“Predatory, abusive lawsuits are wreaking havoc on small businesses in every corner of California,” said Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto), who spoke at the rally in support of her Assembly Bill 54, which would help reduce abusive lawsuits alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “We need to stand up for small businesses and protect them from unscrupulous attorneys abusing our legal system to get rich.”

“Our legal system should not be used to target small businesses with shakedown ADA lawsuits,” said Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Merced), who spoke at the rally in support of his Assembly Bill 52, which also deals with ADA lawsuit abuse. “Passing reforms like these will help California create jobs, not lawsuits.”

In addition to ADA lawsuit reforms, other bills the activists focused on included measures to curb abusive lawsuits related to the Private Attorney General Act and California’s Proposition 65.

“California’s smallest businesses are those hurt the hardest by abusive Proposition 65 lawsuits,” said Assembly Member Brian Jones (R-Santee), who discussed his AB 1252, which would help protect small businesses with between 10-25 employees from abusive Proposition 65 litigation. “Too many small businesses have been forced to close because of lawsuit abuse, costing our communities badly-needed jobs.”

The rally was part of CALA and CJAC’s fifth annual Day at the Capitol, which gives small business owners, community leaders and concerns citizens the opportunity to discuss the need to pass lawsuit reforms face-to-face with their legislators. More than 150 supporters attended this year’s event – a more than fivefold increase since the first Day at the Capitol in 2011.

“My business was targeted by two ADA lawsuits at the same time,” said     Travis Hausauer, owner of The Squeeze Inn and a co-chair of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. “We need to pass common sense reform that stops lawsuit abuse and helps businesses like mine thrive and create jobs.”

“California is ground-zero for lawsuit abuse. We need to take common-sense steps to make our lawsuit system serve the interests of ordinary people, rather than lawyers,” said Tom Scott, Executive Director for California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.  “Reducing the burden that lawsuit abuse places on small businesses will enable them to do what they do best – invest in creating jobs in our state.”

“Lawsuit abuse is out of control in California,” said Kim Stone, President of CJAC. “We need common sense reforms to make sure that our courts are not exploited by lawyers for their personal financial gain.”

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) is the only statewide association dedicated solely to improving California’s civil liability system.

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